Rich Clemens

Well, we're glad some stick around to share their camp fires.

Ahhh ... so good to be back North again, it's been too long. We had a good ride up this year. Wake up at 3:00am and on the road by 4:00am. 11 hours later we pull into Lakair. Great trip, a long trip, but too much anticipation of what lies ahead to get tired. This year was special as our son-in-law Travis was able to make the trip. He remembers going to Canada many years ago, back when he was in elementary school. He always wanted to come back after seeing the pics we took on our trips up to the Canadian Shield. So, this year, it all worked out for him. I think he had a really great time and we were finally able to put him onto some fish. Couple shots around and about. Sure was good to catch up with our friends and also had the opportunity to meet some new ones. I think that's what makes this OFC GTG so special. (Didn't even have too much trouble getting my boat in the water this year ) Preparing for the blast-off. Such a motley crew eh ? Dianne and Marvin watching all the activity. Anyone say ... FISH FRY (BEFORE) Ahhh .. Fresh Fish with the special breading. lots of great prizes this year - as always Sydney's first GTG and, from what I hear, her pike showed up most of the rest of us so-called 'fisherman'. Sydney drew the name for one of Spiel's custom made rod. Congrats to the winner - she was a work of art. Travis' first Canadian Pike - a two-hander no less Just a few random pike pics. I guess this is what you catch when you're musky fishing. All in all we had a great time. Just like my very first OFC, the guys and gals really made Travis feel as part of the group and he had a great time. Hope to see EVERYONE there again next year and maybe some new faces as well.

Basically just casting the cabbage beds as we came across them. This area seems to have a lot of scattered cabbage beds and a nice little wind enabled us to just drift over the area and cast around them and then into them. Last year, in September while at Wolseley bay, I guy we met from Ohio nailed 6 musky in a single week. His lure of choice - Double Cow Girl, black with gold blades. I already had a couple, but with silver blades. Needless to say, I had a couple made with gold blades. This was my go-to lure for most of the trip and casted it more times than other lures. Wore my arm out pretty quick as I'm not used to casting those things. That's the one she hit. We tried trolling, but all we picked up were a few pike. I felt the hit and once I started moving her in, I realized she was a nice sized fish and it really didn't take her long to get to the boat. But, once we got her close, she really started to put of a fight, even coming out of the water. Finally got her netted and after I got my tools laid out, looked in the net, and there lies the lure - free and clean. Removed the lure from the net and lifted her out. Was great to see her take off so fast, just as I placed her in the water. We predominately hit the cabbage beds where we found them. We also tried a few reed beds, but they just weren't developed like they have been in past years.

Same here Lew and really appreciate you taking the time to take Patsy and I out for a bit. Sorry I had to catch that pike though.

I'll share some of the other stuff-chat and some pics a little later on. This is just one of the things that made this year's trip extra special. A very nice 47 1/2 Lakair Musky. Just as I was pulling her out of the net. Sorry, I didn't mess with the sun position to get a better shot. But, I soon as I placed her back in the water, she was off like a shot. Hope to put up more sometime over the week-end.

Marvin was a sick little puppy for a couple of days there. Sure was a relief to us when we saw him up and running around like normal. Not sure what was going on, but a number of the pups got sick from something. We're kinda glad now that we didn't bring our two along this time. Any number of reasons and various rumors flying around. Like Lew, I don't want to spread any of them around. I know our lab cannot tolerate 'people' food, so we really have to be careful with handouts or anything else that may accidently fall from the table or someone's plate. But, she just loves the water like all the rest. Oh yes ... It's raining up here and supposed to rain the rest of the week.

Glad you folks could make it up this year. Probably a nice needed stress reliever. Hope everyhting goes well for your daughter and her pending survery. We'll keep her in our thoughts and prayers.

Yes indeed - another great year. Funny how one complains about the noise and partying - when the one complaining is the prime instigator.

I used to go there back in the early 90's. Art and Brenda Barefoot winter not more than 45 minutes from where we live. We went back for quite a few years before moving along and I would go back. However, they adopted a no-pet policy and that keeps us from going back. Launch at Hartley Bay Marina and just a short boat ride, maybe a mile, down river, and they sit back in a nice sheltered little bay. Nice lodge with a pool table, movie selection, wide-screen TV (at least they did have). Really nice place. Most of the fishing we did was down an Wanapitae (spelling ?) Bay. The biggest pike I ever caught was caught there. Just boat on down from the lodge and you'll come to a series of parallel islands. I would fish down between them, in the weed beds. In between these islands is where we boated 2 37" pike. Take a right back around here and head back towards Frazier Bay - good pike back there too. BUT - YOU MUST BE very careful going back through here - very rocky. This was back inthe day when spoons were very popular and we used them a lot. Would be fun to try out the new baits to see what would bite. Lots of fish species to choose from. I think you'd have a great time there.

Nice to meet you pikeguy. Met quite a few new board members this year - which I look forward to each year. Lew's Marv had a pretty rough day the past two days - possible from being over-heated. Glad to report that he's up and around again and back to normal - keeping his bones away from Digger. In a way, I guess we're a little glad we didn;t bring our two along this time.

From the picture ... I can see why you was having a great time. Those short people can hide just about anywhere But seriously - we did miss you.

Glad you two could make it here. Looks like Sydney really had a great time and also great to see her land one of the top fish for the pike derby. I can see why she is already asking about next year.

There is also a map of the French River that can be purchased at the French River Trading Post. Mostly just outlines the shorelines, cabins, and such. No depths or submerged hazards. Just be darn careful until you know exactly what's under you. Lots of lower unit destructors that can appear out of nowhere.

Same as ours - all the truck lights worked fine. There was a separate fuse box in our Dakota under the hood that had separate fuses for the trailer lights. May not be the same scenario for you. Hope you can get it tracked down.

wouldn't be a fuse would it ? I recall coming up the QEW a fews years back. No running lights, but the signals worked. Ended up being a blown fuse. Replaced the fuse and all was well.

We have OFC measuring stickers ?

Congrats Joey. Good to see you were able to land that one with no net. But, I'll bet there's a wee bit bigger one out there with your name on it. Just getting warmed up now.

It's something isn't it, how the younger ones face such obstacles with greater determination than us adults do. We know a girl down here, a little younger than Wayne/Leah's daughter who is having all kinds of prolems with Chrones disease as well. Surgery after surgery, procedure after procedure, and this young lady is braver and stronger than a lot of people I know.

Sure hope this is the end of the very looooooong road. All our best.

You can still but them down this way - never used them though.

You folks seems to have had your more-than-fair-share of nasty weather already this year. Kinda sounds like we're in line for a little of that later on today.

Yup - Saturday is opening day to go after the big girls. I hope they're hungry. I believe Bass come in the following Saturday - the 25th (If memory serves me right)

I can certainly see why you look forward to this trip each year. Probably a lot of drooling mouths reading your post.

I'll second/third the bass. I'll be in Rideau Ferry this coming September. We always do very well with bass and even run into the occasional 20" specimen. We Florida rig a 6" worm and just wind drift across the weeds and typically have good success. Early am and late evening, across the heavy / shallow weeds we'll switch over to top waters and have a blast. I've been to Murphy's Point a couple times, just for a quick drive-through, but haven;t fished around that area.

I agree ... quite impressive on the numbers there. Congrats. I tried to meet up with BCD as well when we were up there in September. Bad thing is, we just (I mean just) missed each other. I won't be at Wolseley this year - but hope to be next September.